Contents — உள்ளடக்கம்
  1. Part I — Various Ways God Speaks
  2. Part II — Was it God who spoke?

Part I — Various Ways God Speaks

We read that God spoke to Adam and Eve in the cool of the day in the garden. After man has sinned the interval of communication has got bigger. It became, not daily, rather occasionally.

1 Hearing Audible Voice

He spoke to His prophets in this manner — Moses, Samuel, Nathan, Isaiah, Jeremiah and so on. Sin and Iniquity has made our ears deaf. It separates us from God (Isa 59:2). We also read that Holiness without which no man shall see the Lord.

For example if a cell phone moves away from the cell phone tower the signal strength becomes weaker. Likewise sin separates us from God. As an exception God can reveal himself to anyone as He wills. He spoke to Elijah — first there was an earthquake, then fire, silence, and in the silence He spoke with a small still voice.

I have also heard his voice. As we get filled with the Holy Spirit when we pray, we will hear a voice as if it is from a headphone. Whatsoever the Lord speaks will be in agreement with the Bible. He does not often speak in audible form. If you are adamant telling the Lord "I will believe you only if you speak to me audibly", it is utterly wrong.

2 Through Dreams

God did not speak to Joseph in an audible format — He spoke to him through dreams. Wherever He spoke to His people in dreams, the ability to understand the dreams was also given to them. But it was a mystery to non-believers such as Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar.

"In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man." Job 33:15–17
God has spoken to me many times in a dream. When I was a kid I saw a dream of myself swimming in a river, being carried away by the current. I came to know later that God was speaking to me through that dream — River+Water = World. I was being pulled by this world. The same dream returned, and this time the meaning was placed inside me. The Lord was telling me to leave those things. So if you are bound to your couch and stuck to the TV, God may be warning you through this article.

During my college days, one night I dreamed that a classmate's father had passed away and the exam was cancelled. The next morning, exactly that had come to pass. Sometimes Jesus Himself will appear and speak in a dream. You will know the difference when a dream is from God and a normal dream.

3 Through Visions

A dream is when we sleep. A vision is when we pray or are not asleep. Jesus appeared to Apostle Paul. Daniel interpreted the meanings of dreams and saw visions. John saw visions in the island of Patmos. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Ezekiel also had visions.

My first vision was when I was going to fourth standard. My father had just got saved. I was trying to pray at a cottage meeting, eyes closed. I saw a small park with a cross, and a man crucified to it — alive, looking at me, while I was playing with other kids. Even today the memory is so vivid, it looks like I saw it just a while ago.
4 Through the Holy Spirit

We read in the book of Acts that the Spirit of the Lord spoke — to John the Baptist (John 1:33), to Philip (Acts 8:29), and to Peter while he was praying (Acts 10:19). Agabus mentioned a great famine that was coming, saying "says the Spirit of the Lord".

"And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it." Isaiah 30:21

We read that "my sheep hear my voice." So it will be a sound in your ears.

5 Reproving of the Holy Spirit
"And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." John 16:8

Sometimes when we get angry and want to say bad words, there is an inner impression: "That is not good. Grieve not the Holy Spirit. Don't do this. Don't go there." Such convictions are one form of God speaking to us. We have to leave such evil ways when God speaks.

6 Being Led by the Spirit
"Those who are led by the Spirit of God are called the sons of God." Romans 8:14

When God takes you through a few experiences you will know for sure that it has to be God.

7 Through Reading the Bible

When you read the Bible, a verse will jump out, or pierce your heart, or touch you. When you read, you may get filled with the Holy Spirit and start speaking in tongues. That means God has spoken to you.

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword." Hebrews 4:12
One time when God delayed answering my prayer I did a foolish act and was bitter toward Him for many months. One day God spoke to me through Proverbs 19:3 — "The foolishness of man destroys his ways and his heart continues to rage against the LORD." That verse came like a sword and pierced my heart. I repented greatly. There is no other sword sharper than the word of God.
8 Through Prophecy

If you go to a church or prayer meeting and a person with a gift of prophecy gets filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesies, it is a way God speaks to someone.

One day I was in a prayer meeting, thinking that God speaks to everyone but not to me. One believer sister prophesied: "I will speak to you. Wait for me in my presence — saith the Lord." That was exactly my issue. I didn't have patience to wait in His presence.

In 1910 B.C. Bevington was called to pray for a believer sister sick for nine years. Her unbelieving husband threw him out, yet Bevington hid in a nearby haystack and continued praying for 72 hours. God healed her. Her husband, astonished, found Bevington and accepted Jesus as his Saviour. We need to learn to wait in the presence of God.

9 Through a Sermon or Message

When a pastor is giving a sermon, he himself may not know that God has spoken to some of the people there. When he mentions certain incidents and verses, you know that God is speaking directly to you.

10 Through Angels

Sometimes God will send His angels to give information. There are many examples in the Bible — Samson's parents, Gideon, Joseph (Mary's husband), Cornelius, Daniel, and more.

My dad also met two angels when he was reading his Bible. Two angels came down and wrote something on his forehead and went up without flapping their wings. He became very cold when the angel touched him. Even in this century many people are having encounters with angels.
11 Being in the Spirit While Sleeping
Recently God spoke differently in a dream. Though I was sleeping, I was in the Spirit. I was prophesying, repeating after a sound I heard: "I will deliver him. I will bind his wounds. I will lead him to still waters." This was an answer received for a brother I had been praying for over many years.
12 Through Someone Close to You

When one of your family members speaks a word, it is as if God spoke. You will come to know only after certain things come to pass. For example, the chief priest Caiaphas said "It is good for one man to die for many people" — John writes that he was not just saying it, but prophesying (John 11:51).

⚠️ Some people falsely understand when God speaks. When we get filled with the Holy Spirit the audible voice will always be right. However, when you read a verse, or someone says something you take for yourself, or even in a dream — you can misunderstand. Be very careful. Don't misunderstand.

Part II — Was it God who spoke?

a God's Faithfulness

When we are sincerely seeking after the Lord, the Lord honours that.

"Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him. Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee." Deuteronomy 4:35–36

He loved our fathers. Even today Jesus is interceding for us to the Father.

b God's Voice Makes Our Heart Tremble
"At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place. Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth." Job 37:1–2

God's voice has a particular sweetness.

"Let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely." Song of Solomon 2:14

The dove in the Bible speaks of the Holy Spirit. It is the voice of the Holy Spirit.

c God's Voice Brings Peace
"I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly." Psalm 85:8
d God Never Contradicts Scripture

God will never speak to you anything that directly contradicts with Scripture. He will not say: "Go and steal" or "Curse him" or "Do this sin" or "Explode as a suicidal bomber to get to heaven." All such deceiving voices are from the devil.

e He Will Not Speak Through False Sources

He will not talk to you from a Buddhist monk, nor from a Hindu Guru, nor from a group that denies the triune nature of God — not from Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses. He will not speak to you from Bhagavad Gita, Quran, or Upanishad. Because they deny Jesus as the eternal Son of God. The devil is mixing half truth and half lie, and many people are being deceived.

It is more important to obey God, than the method He chooses to speak to us.

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock." Matthew 7:24–25

Once upon a time, I was also searching to know how God speaks to us. I am confident this article will be useful to you.